“That doesn’t mean we wouldn’t appreciate an update, if you happen to have one,” Jeremiah said.
“Me, too.” Nancy looked at Adam. “I was wondering how things were going. Did they ever find out if there was a connection between Uriah Stone and Senator Davies’s father?”
“There’s a connection, all right. Stone worked for Reverend Davies for more than thirty years. But the Reverend claims total ignorance. He claims he had no idea his son was planning to commit murder, or that Uriah was a part of that. Reverend Davies claims that as far as he knew, Stone left to go on vacation. He says he had no reason to doubt that and was, quote, ‘beyond shocked, dismayed, and disappointed’ to learn otherwise. And so far, Uriah Stone has backed that up by refusing to say anything else.”
“What about that other man? Tobin Lewis?”
Adam shook his head. “Special Agent Compton told me that Lewis has been talking.”
“That could mean anything,” Eli said.
“Well, in this case, he told me—off the record, so I know he wanted you to know—that while he doesn’t like to consider plea bargains, in this case the couple that Lewis has fingered are most definitely bigger fish. He said they’re not only behind the PAC Lewis was CEO of, but it’s not altogether clear where their money came from in the first place.”
Nancy chuckled. “The old, if all else fails, hit them with evasion of taxes charges?”
“Probably,” Eli said. “It’s an old stand-by for a reason. I’d have personally preferred to see Lewis pay for breaking in to your apartment, but at least he’ll be off the streets for a while. Unfortunately, he has likely already been replaced.”
“Sometimes, you take a few players out of the game, only to have them replaced by a few more. All you can do is celebrate the battles you win,” Jeremiah said. “The war appears to be never ending.”
Adam nodded. “I’m very happy to be the sheriff of a small town.”
Nancy grinned as a middle-aged man dressed like the stereotypical college professor, but with a long blond ponytail, came into the restaurant. He headed straight for them, and gave Nancy a huge hug.
“My favorite bookworm,” he said.
“My favorite dealer,” she replied.
“I guess I am, aren’t I?”
Nancy turned to her men. “You remember Roman James?”
Eli and then Jeremiah both shook hands with the book dealer.
“Mr. James,” Eli greeted. “We may have been a bit tense the last time we met. My apologies for that.”
Roman smiled, showing the most beautiful white teeth that Nancy had ever seen on any man. “No need to apologize. I saw the entire scene play out before my very eyes, right there at the Carstairs. It was like one of my favorite suspense novels coming to life.” He grinned. “Since I was in Dallas, and speaking to Kate earlier, I decided to crash your party.”
“We’re glad you did.”
“I’m staying at the Park View Inn for a couple of nights. It’s been too long since I visited.”
“Great! We can talk about books, book buying, and book selling.” Then she thought of her cousins, Greg, Rebecca, and Cody. “And since you mentioned looking for new places to send your overages, I’ll introduce you to the directors of Maria’s Quest.”
“Excellent!” Then he shook his head. “I’m afraid I am a typical bibliophile. Start talking about books and all else fades away. Congratulations, all of you, on your engagement.”
“Thank you,” Jeremiah said. “We’re very happy.”
It didn’t surprise Nancy that Roman made a bee-line for her mother. She imagined that the two of them would be talking books for a good chunk of the evening.
More Benedicts arrived in the form of Chase and Brian. They were accompanied by their foreman, Ricoh Stone, and their two hired hands, Alan Wilson and Duncan Moore.
The easy familiarity her men exhibited with not only her cousins but their men pleased Nancy. She knew they’d become friends the day Eli and Jeremiah had pitched in on the building of Cord and Jackson’s second barn.
“That hand of yours all healed up, Alan?” Jeremiah asked.
Alan flexed his fingers, and then held his hand up for them to inspect. “For the most part, yes. I still have to baby it some.” He grinned. “Just one more scar to add to the collection.”
“Congratulations.” Chase slapped Eli on the back. “And welcome to the families.”
“Thank you,” Eli said. “Everyone’s been very kind. How’s the ranch doing?”
“We’re doing. The first generation of horses bred and born on the Benedict North Ranch are thriving. We ended up with three fillies and two colts. We’re thinking of adding to our string this year, acquiring a couple more brood mares.”
“Not stallions?” Jeremiah asked.
“Not this year. Cord and Jackson had one shipped from their parents’ Montana spread,” Brian said. “We’re going to be partners in horse breeding and training.” He shrugged. “In the beginning we thought we wanted to go it alone but hell, they’re family, too. And alone gets old, real fast.”
“And things are going to be getting a bit easier yet,” Chase said, “because Cord and Jackson’s brothers are joining the team. They’re coming down from Montana to work as their brothers’ ranch hands.”
“I didn’t know they had brothers.” Nancy had only met her new cousins and their wife a few times—though she knew Eli and Jeremiah had helped with the barn raising a couple of weeks back. She’d also met—and instantly liked—their sister, Veronica.
“They do indeed have brothers, twins. Jesse and Barry.” Kate Benedict came up behind Brian, who automatically stepped aside and put his arm around her. “Nice boys, at heart. They had a bit of a rough patch last year, but they’ve been working hard to redeem themselves.”
Nancy wasted no time in giving Grandma Kate a hug. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“And I’m delighted to be here, especially for this occasion.”
“Grandma, did you play matchmaker again?” Matt Benedict came over with Amanda Rose in his arms. He winked at Nancy and said to her men, “That’s what Grandma does. I don’t know if she considers it a hobby, or her new calling.”
“Well, if you did, Mrs. Benedict, on behalf of us both—thank you very much.” Eli kissed her cheek.
“I didn’t do that—well, not exactly. But you’re welcome. Now, boys, you have to call me Grandma Kate, since you’re both going to be marrying Nancy and will therefore be my grandsons.”
“Yes, ma’am, Grandma Kate.” Jeremiah kissed her cheek. “We’re both more than happy to claim you as kin.”
Chase and Brian went in search of their wife, while Ricoh, Alan, and Duncan looked around—likely wondering where they were going to sit.
“Come on, guys, we’ve got room.” Matt led them toward the table he and his brother Steven were sharing with their sister Susan and her husbands. Alan and Duncan clearly had their gazes elsewhere, so Nancy looked to see what—or whom—had caught their attention.
Her gaze landed on Holly Bethune, too busy listening to Aunt Samantha to even notice she was being watched by two handsome wranglers.
Nancy looked at Grandma Kate. “If you’re interested in matchmaking…” Her words trailed off because Kate appeared to be involved in some sort of silent communication with Nancy’s cousin, Chloe Jessop, who was sitting with her husbands over by the windows.
Then Kate turned back to her and smiled. “Yes, dear. We noticed that, too. And I must say, I think our Miss Holly is a very lonely—and a very sad—woman.”
“One who could only benefit from the attention of a couple of cowboys?” Nancy asked.
Kate grinned, and leaned closer. “What woman wouldn’t benefit from the attention of a couple of good cowboys, I ask you?”
She straightened up, winked, and headed off—likely to confer with her coconspirator.
“I hope I have that much energy when I’m in my nineties,” Jeremiah said.
�
�Me, too.” Nancy wound her arms through the arms of her men and sighed as she watched her family—such a large group—chat and visit, eat and drink and laugh.
“We’re getting a lot of in-laws,” Eli said. “And I like them all.”
“So do I, most of the time.” Nancy grinned. There was, after all, the tradition of cousin-speak to be observed.
Jeremiah chuckled. Then he bent down and kissed her. “Yep, that flash of smart ass from time to time just underscores the fact that we definitely belong together.”
“I don’t think there’s any doubt about it,” Eli said. He kissed her head. “And sweetheart? We’ve figured it out.”
“What did you figure out?”
“You challenged us, early on, remember? You said this town wasn’t about taking their lusty pleasures seriously.”
“So I did. So tell me, what is it about?”
“It’s about love, and acceptance,” Jeremiah said.
“But mostly, it’s about family. It’s about people who love and live and care.” Eli’s smile reached his eyes.
Nancy swallowed the lump in her throat. “Yeah, it’s all of that. It’s all of that, and more.”
For a long while she just stood between her men and enjoyed the moment. She didn’t need to rush off to the next thing, because this—what she had now—was everything.
THE END
WWW.MORGANASHBURY.COM
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Morgan Ashbury, also writing as Cara Covington, has been a writer since she was first able to pick up a pen. In the beginning it was a hobby, a way to create a world of her own, and who could resist the allure of that? Then as she grew and matured, life got in the way, as life often does. She got married and had three children, and worked in the field of accounting, for that was the practical thing to do and the children did need to be fed. And all the time she was being practical, she would squirrel herself away on quiet Sunday afternoons and write.
Most children are raised knowing the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule. Morgan’s children also learned the Paper Rule: thou shalt not throw out any paper that has thy mother’s words upon it.
Believing in tradition, Morgan ensured that her children’s children learned this rule, too.
Life threw Morgan a curve when, in 2002, she underwent emergency triple bypass surgery. Second chances are to be cherished, and with the encouragement and support of her husband, Morgan decided to use hers to do what she’d always dreamed of doing—writing full-time.
Morgan has always loved writing romance. It is the one genre that can incorporate every other genre within its pulsating heart. Romance showcases all that humankind can aspire to be. And, she admits, she’s a sucker for a happy ending.
Morgan’s favorite hobbies are reading, cooking, and traveling—though she would rather you didn’t mention that last one to her husband. She has too much fun teasing him about having become a “Traveling Fool” of late.
Morgan lives in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, with a mysterious cat, a nine-pound Morkie dog who thinks he’s a German Shepherd, and her husband of forty-two years, David.
For all titles by Cara Covington, please visit
www.bookstrand.com/cara-covington
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Love Under Two Undercover Cops [The Lusty, Texas Collection] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 29
